Anything that can help us parents within the home when it
comes to screen time, game time management and setting technology boundaries
should always be welcomed. Especially
now during COVID-19 when goodness knows we need all the help we can get with
children and teenagers spending far more time online.

Microsoft have announced the launch of their Xbox Family
Settings App. It’s available to download soon on both iOS and Android devices.

This is good news for one major reason. If you’re a Parent like me and you have ever
tried to set up and configure the Parental controls on a gaming console you’ll
know it’s not easy. I work in this space and can see it would be difficult for
anyone who dosen’t. In fact the phrase I
hear regularly from parents who attempt it is either ‘I wouldn’t know where to
start’ or ‘I just couldn’t figure it out’.

With the new app parents don’t now actually need to go near
the game console itself – the settings are controlled via the new app.

This sounds
interesting Wayne. So tell me more..

Didn’t I tell you it was exciting! J.

Soo.. in a nutshell, Xbox Family Settings is an app for parents to help them manage their children’s gaming activities on Xbox One. Once the app is downloaded and installed on the Parents smartphone. The app will then give parents the ability to control children’s screen time, content filters and access to other players. Not all features are available as yet and will be rolled out in the near future but the Screen Time and Content Restrictions are already in place. In the near future parents will also be able to ‘Manage Friends’ from the app.

Parents can set screen time limits for each day of the week. Once the time has been used up the gamer can
then request more time. This can be approved – or not, via a notification on
the parents’ phone. The app also logs
and reports the amount of time the child/teenager has spent gaming. This provides parents with a clearer picture
of how much gaming is being done over say a week. Prepare yourself for reports
of timescales of a part-time or full time job!.

Content filters can also be set based on the age of the
child, blocking titles deemed inappropriate – but as we’ve mentioned before, when it comes
to filters, none are perfect so always keep this in mind.

Parents can also determine their child’s ability to talk or
play with others during game play, from allowing ‘all’ or ‘friends only’ or blocking
everyone altogether – all controlled from within the app.

So How do I get the
App?

You’ll be able to download the preview version of the app ahead of the official launch.

Stay safe!

Wayne

Found this blog helpful? Get access to all of my Online Safety Videos & Digital Wellbeing resources via the CoBabble App

]]>http://protectyourkids.org.uk/2020/06/new-xbox-parental-control-app/feed/0Dignity Defense Alert: How Instacart and DoorDash are Helping Sex Trafficking and Domestic Violence Victims During COVID-19http://protectyourkids.org.uk/2020/06/dignity-defense-alert-how-instacart-and-doordash-are-helping-sex-trafficking-and-domestic-violence-victims-during-covid-19/
http://protectyourkids.org.uk/2020/06/dignity-defense-alert-how-instacart-and-doordash-are-helping-sex-trafficking-and-domestic-violence-victims-during-covid-19/#respondWed, 03 Jun 2020 21:02:28 +0000http://protectyourkids.org.uk/2020/06/dignity-defense-alert-how-instacart-and-doordash-are-helping-sex-trafficking-and-domestic-violence-victims-during-covid-19/The National Center on Sexual Exploitation is proud to recognize Instacart and DoorDash for their efforts to help sex trafficking and domestic violence victims during COVID-19 as this month’s Dignity Defense Alert. A few months ago, direct service providers from different regions of the U.S. began reaching out to the National Center on Sexual Exploitation….

]]>http://protectyourkids.org.uk/2020/06/dignity-defense-alert-how-instacart-and-doordash-are-helping-sex-trafficking-and-domestic-violence-victims-during-covid-19/feed/0On Racism and Sexual Exploitationhttp://protectyourkids.org.uk/2020/06/on-racism-and-sexual-exploitation/
http://protectyourkids.org.uk/2020/06/on-racism-and-sexual-exploitation/#respondTue, 02 Jun 2020 21:26:11 +0000http://protectyourkids.org.uk/2020/06/on-racism-and-sexual-exploitation/Racism is everywhere in sexual exploitation. Pornography is rife with racist material that celebrates the degradation of black women and girls. Commercial sex buyers are predominantly white men while victims of sex trafficking are disproportionately women and girls of color. Predators prey upon the people society has marginalized, which means minority communities are a prime…

]]>http://protectyourkids.org.uk/2020/06/on-racism-and-sexual-exploitation/feed/0New education video for 6-9 year olds – being SMART with a heart onlinehttp://protectyourkids.org.uk/2020/05/new-education-video-for-6-9-year-olds-being-smart-with-a-heart-online/
http://protectyourkids.org.uk/2020/05/new-education-video-for-6-9-year-olds-being-smart-with-a-heart-online/#respondThu, 28 May 2020 14:40:00 +0000http://protectyourkids.org.uk/2020/05/new-education-video-for-6-9-year-olds-being-smart-with-a-heart-online/Over the last few weeks we have released a series of films for young people to use whilst learning at home during COVID-19. Today we launched the final film in this series, looking at all the ways you can be SMART with a heart online.
]]>http://protectyourkids.org.uk/2020/05/new-education-video-for-6-9-year-olds-being-smart-with-a-heart-online/feed/0Faux Paw Cybersecurity Superstarshttp://protectyourkids.org.uk/2020/05/faux-paw-cybersecurity-superstars/
http://protectyourkids.org.uk/2020/05/faux-paw-cybersecurity-superstars/#respondWed, 27 May 2020 16:51:13 +0000http://protectyourkids.org.uk/2020/05/faux-paw-cybersecurity-superstars/

Attention all students, teachers, and parents! Have you ever wanted to be a superstar? Today, iKeepSafe released exciting new activity sheets designed to ignite students’ curiosity about careers in cybersecurity. Faux Paw Cybersecurity Superstars foster age appropriate discussions between adults and young students (K-3rd grade) by highlighting how Faux Paw and the other characters navigate online safety and the digital world, and specifically highlight various ways to contribute in the cybersecurity field.

The resources include these engaging activities:

Coloring poster

Secret code activity

Discussion questions & word search page

Supplemental singalong page

These hands on activities correspond with three Faux Paw books: Faux Paw’s Adventures on the Internet, Faux Paw and the Dangerous Download, and Faux Paw and the Unfortunate Upload.

]]>http://protectyourkids.org.uk/2020/05/faux-paw-cybersecurity-superstars/feed/0What is… Zoom? A guide for parents and carershttp://protectyourkids.org.uk/2020/05/what-is-zoom-a-guide-for-parents-and-carers/
http://protectyourkids.org.uk/2020/05/what-is-zoom-a-guide-for-parents-and-carers/#respondWed, 27 May 2020 15:32:00 +0000http://protectyourkids.org.uk/2020/05/what-is-zoom-a-guide-for-parents-and-carers/Zoom is a service that allows you to virtually meet other people online through video or audio-only calls. You can join these calls via laptops, tablets and mobile phones. The COVID-19 pandemic has meant that ways of connecting online are more important than ever, with Zoom being an increasingly popular option.
]]>http://protectyourkids.org.uk/2020/05/what-is-zoom-a-guide-for-parents-and-carers/feed/0Online Sexual Exploitation Creeping Back into U.S. Due to Lack of FOSTA-SESTA Enforcementhttp://protectyourkids.org.uk/2020/05/online-sexual-exploitation-creeping-back-into-u-s-due-to-lack-of-fosta-sesta-enforcement/
http://protectyourkids.org.uk/2020/05/online-sexual-exploitation-creeping-back-into-u-s-due-to-lack-of-fosta-sesta-enforcement/#respondTue, 26 May 2020 23:48:11 +0000http://protectyourkids.org.uk/2020/05/online-sexual-exploitation-creeping-back-into-u-s-due-to-lack-of-fosta-sesta-enforcement/The passage of FOSTA-SESTA in 2018 was a major legislative victory for survivors of sex trafficking. It gave survivors a route to justice by providing a civil right of action. It also empowered state Attorney Generals to prosecute websites that facilitate sex trafficking. Furthermore, its impact on the online commercial sexual exploitation landscape was immediate…

]]>http://protectyourkids.org.uk/2020/05/online-sexual-exploitation-creeping-back-into-u-s-due-to-lack-of-fosta-sesta-enforcement/feed/0Facebook Messenger Rooms what you need to knowhttp://protectyourkids.org.uk/2020/05/facebook-messenger-rooms-what-you-need-to-know/
http://protectyourkids.org.uk/2020/05/facebook-messenger-rooms-what-you-need-to-know/#respondTue, 26 May 2020 14:06:25 +0000http://protectyourkids.org.uk/2020/05/facebook-messenger-rooms-what-you-need-to-know/As you would expect – with the amount of group video chat-calls taking place these days, Facebook, the world’s biggest and best known social media platform would not want to miss out on that action.

The new feature allows for up to 50 people to join a video chat
that includes 360-degree augmented reality background filters!.

Messenger Rooms is different in that you don’t need to have a Facebook account to be able to join a room. Facebook has also announced that it plans to develop the ability to chat with more people to both WhatsApp and Instagram very soon.

Image Credit: Facebook.com

What Privacy and Safety
features does it have?

Good question. Smart to ask this
before jumping in to new apps with video chat features.

Here’s what you need to know about Messenger Rooms:

Lacks end-to-end encryption

You can change the visibility settings, which allow users
to control who can see their room.

You can share the link to your room freely across the
Internet and on other social media platforms.
This can attract unwanted attention into a room

It’s not clear what
’Meta Data’ is shared with whom and for what purpose, how long data is stored
or where it ends up.

You do not have the option to password protect your room.

Remember

We’ve seen issues already on
other popular video chat platforms eg ‘Zoombombing’ on Zoom.

Top 5 TIPS

Some things to keep in mind
if you’re considering adding yet another group video-chat to your communication
channels:

Lock Your Room.
To prevent random people and unwanted attention from joining.

Unlock to invite more people in if you like but don’t
forget to lock it again.

Remove anyone who
is being inappropriate or abusive within the room

Don’t post or share personal or private information

Be extra careful about and with whom you post your
room publicly.

Remember
Messenger rooms does not offer end-to-end encryption so you won’t have the enhanced
privacy which you perhaps might have on another platform

Stay safe online, and off.

Wayne

]]>http://protectyourkids.org.uk/2020/05/facebook-messenger-rooms-what-you-need-to-know/feed/0Amazon Hosting “Humor” Books About Child Sexual Abuse Groominghttp://protectyourkids.org.uk/2020/05/amazon-hosting-humor-books-about-child-sexual-abuse-grooming/
http://protectyourkids.org.uk/2020/05/amazon-hosting-humor-books-about-child-sexual-abuse-grooming/#respondFri, 22 May 2020 14:10:05 +0000http://protectyourkids.org.uk/2020/05/amazon-hosting-humor-books-about-child-sexual-abuse-grooming/One Reddit user was horrifyingly on the dot about the potential for a certain book series sold on Amazon — comprised of books with titles like Spank the Monkey Lends a Hand and Put Tony’s Nuts in Your Mouth! — accidentally ending up in a children’s library. While these books are technically marketed for adults, there…